Bandung City Government threatens dishonourable discharge for civil servants organising online gambling

The Bandung City Government has threatened to impose sanctions of dishonourable discharge on state civil apparatus (ASN) proven to be organising or mobilising online gambling practices.

Bandung Mayor Muhammad Farhan stated on Wednesday that ASN committing minor infractions would still undergo coaching and warning mechanisms in accordance with applicable regulations.

“If it is only once or twice and still at the stage of a minor infraction, of course there is a coaching and warning mechanism. But if it has reached the stage of organising or mobilising gambling practices, we will take firm action immediately. They can be dishonourably discharged,” he said.

According to Farhan, the Bandung city government will also strengthen digital literacy and financial literacy among ASN as a preventive measure before expanding it to the wider community.

In addition to education, Farhan believes that strengthening cooperatives can be one solution to provide safe and legal access to financing so that the public does not fall victim to illegal online loans.

He said the government is also monitoring a number of informal savings and loan groups that are transforming into savings and loan cooperatives to prevent potential irregularities.

“The utilisation of cooperatives in Bandung City is already quite high. The issue is that there are indications some informal savings and loan groups are transforming into savings and loan cooperatives. This is what we are monitoring so that it does not develop into a problem,” he said.

He added that online gambling not only impacts family economic conditions but also has the potential to cause high dependency.

“We know that online gambling and illegal online loans have penetrated various circles. Gambling also has a very high level of dependency, almost the same as drug addiction and other forms of addiction,” he said.